Types / Anti-types: A manual typewriter works by using levers to strike against an ink ribbon, making an impression on the paper. The impressions on the levers, or hammers are called 'type', the impression made on the paper is called the 'anti-type'. One is a mirror of the other, although it is a completely different material, has a different purpose and exists in a different space. In this context, our anti-'types' are Christ, God, the Holy Spirit and characters from scripture; the types are characters or objects in 'The Matrix'.

Character Names and Representations

The Matrix
Type: From the Latin word for “womb.” It, in turn, is from the word mater or mother. Something that constitutes the place or point from which something else originates. In William Gibson's science-fiction novel, "Neuromancer," the "matrix" refers to a large world of computing resources that can be visualized holographically by the user. The hero in the book connects to the matrix through wiring that is integrated with his brain.

Anti-Type: Sin, the 'world'

Trinity
Type: A trinity is a group of three, a triad, the state of being threefold. In scripture, of course, the Trinity is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Anti-types: Holy Trinity - the three together (Morpheus, Neo, Trinity) are necessary to conquer the matrix -- the three in ONE. They have powers, or perhaps simple faith matrix that others do not.

Holy Spirit - she breathes life back into Neo at the end of the movie when he has been shot and has flatlined.

Holy Mother, Mary - as a nurturing mother-figure who facilitates Neo's 'birth' into the real world.


Thomas Anderson
Type: The Greek root "andr" (from "andros") = "man," therefore "Anderson" may be read as "man's son" or "Son of Man," i.e., as yet another Christ-reference. Thomas also means twin, as referenced by Agent Smith that he is 'living two lives'.

Anti-type: ‘Doubting Thomas’ - The apostle Thomas did not believe Jesus had died and been resurrected until he saw the wounds. Thomas Anderson doubts through most of the movie that he is 'The One'.

Neo
Type: Neo is Greek for new. It is also an anagram of eon (not quite an eternitiy, but relatively so) and one, or The One.

Anti-type: Jesus (the Messiah, which means the Anointed One). See the scene with Choi and DuJour at the beginning of the movie. Neo is here to 'save the world,' although not quite in the way that we might expect, just as Christ's mission was not what was expected. He also has to sacrafice himself to save Morpheus. Thomas/Neo is shot, does not feel it until he sees the wound, dies, and then rises again, understanding the truth that he is the One.

Morpheus
Type: Morpheus was the Greek god of dreams (remember this when we get to the Nebuchadnezzar). Also, Morpheus is the one giving Thomas the pills...to either wake him from his sleep or take him back to permanent slumber in the Matrix. Another Morpheus, known from Ovid's Metamorphoses, plays no part in Greek mythology. His name means "he who forms, or molds,” much like Morpheus in The Matrix helps to shape not only Neo but the rest of the crew, as well.

Ant-types: God theFfather (Tank: "Morpheus, you were more than a leader to us. You were a father." Tank may also be referring to his role as teacher and leader here.)

John the Baptist, who heralded the coming of Jesus.

David - King NebHe has a dream and wants it interpreted, but he can't remember what it was. Daniel tells him his dream and interprets it for him. Daniel 2-5.

Another interesting note, if Neo means "One" and Trinity means "Three", one could say that the character Morpheus must stand for "two." The book The Secret Language of Dreams says that the number two "is the number of duality, divine symmetry, and balance. It represents the coming together of the male and female..." This is very accurate statement of Morpheus, since it is he who brings Neo (the man) and Trinity (the woman) together. He is also the character that bridges the gap between two other opposites--the real world and the matrix.

Cypher
Type: Cypher means zero, or one who is of little or no worth. It is also a method of secret writing.

Anti-types: Judas, who betrayed Jesus with a kiss. Cypher betrays with a cell phone and a sneeze. Cypher also keeps his rendezvous with Agent Smith a secret, just as Judas kept his meeting with the high priests a secret.

Satan or a Demon: Visual cues include his goatee, red spots reflecting in his glasses like red pupils (seen upon return from Oracle), when sitting on Morpheus with headset on, light reflects on headset like little horns. He was the only character to wear red clothing. Cypher: "Don't hate me, Trinity. I'm just a messenger." Satan called himself the messenger. Cypher's deal with the Agents = selling his soul for material pleasures = a deal with the devil.

Cypher also may represent the 'seed' that was lost to difficulties and trials.


The Crew of the ship
As a whole, the crew may represent the Church.


Mouse
Type: a mouse is small and quiet; is can also be computer input device.

Anti-type: Mouse may represent the 'seed' that was lost to temptations. He is also the one tempting Neo to meet the woman in the red dress, distracting him from his mission.

Tank
Type: As one of the only two characters actually born and not 'grown,' Tank is apporpriately named after a large earth machine, designed for heavy work.

Anti-types: Mother Mary - Tank says he is 100% pure (old-fashioned homegrown human); he acts as the communicator between two worlds, as some Christians believe Mary does; he is portrayed as kind and good-hearted.

Lazarus, as he is resurrected from the dead by 'some kind of miracle'.

Peter, as “Tank” suggests the same stability and power that “Kefa,” or rock (Peter) suggests. He is also, other than Morpheus, the first to accept Neo’s ‘messiahship.’

Dozer
Type: Also named after an earth machine, Dozer is Tank's brother. A bulldozer also refers to one who intimidates. The word "doze" refers to a light sleep, to be half asleep, or to fall into a light sleep unintentionally, as Dozer does when Cypher kills him.

Anti-type: In the Bible, James and John (both brothers) were Apostles of Christ. They were referred to as "sons of thunder." A tank and a bulldozer are powerful, mechanical machines that make a lot of noise.


Switch
Type: A switch is a computer term meaning 1.) To connect, disconnect (Switch dies when Cypher disconnects her mind from the Matrix), 2) Turning, shifting, changing. 3.) A network device that selects a path or circuit for sending a unit of data to its next destination.

Anti-type: although Switch does not seem to be an anti-type to a specific character, she does represent a member of the body of Christ.

Apoc
Type: Short for Apocalypse? Apocalypse refers to any revelation or prophetic revelation in which the forces of good triumph over the forces of evil, or any universal or widespread destruction or disaster. A version of the screenplay refers to him as the creator of the Four Horsemen computer virus.

Anti-type: again, not an anti-type to a specific character, but Apoc is a constant reminder that the apocalypse is imminent.


Zion
Type: the last human city, a place of refuge for the humans.

Anti-type: Zion, Biblical city, referred to many times in the Old Testament. Psalms 48 - "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. God is known in her palaces for a refuge." Psalm 76:1-2, “God is known in Judah; His name is great in Israel. His tabernacle is in Salem; His dwelling place also is in Zion.”

Nebuchadnezzar

Type: hovercraft; The KJV Dictionary says that Nebuchadnezzar literally means: "Nebo, protect the crown" (or the landmark.) Nebo was the Babylonian God of Wisdom.

Anti-type: Nebuchadnezzar was a king of Babylon. He has a dream and wants it interpreted, but he can't remember what it was. Daniel tells him his dream and interprets it for him. (Daniel 2-5) Later, the King is stricken mad and wanders like a beast in the wilderness until he recovers and acknowledges God's power and goodness. Nebuchadnezzar led the armies that sacked Jerusalem and exiled the two remaining tribes of Jacob who inhabited the southern kingdom of Judah. Nebuchadnezzar’s name appears often in the three major prophets and most of the minor prophets. Jeremiah talks of Nebuchadnezzar being an agent of God’s justice. “If any nation or kingdom will not serve this king, Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, and put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon then I will punish them with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence says the Lord, until I have completed its destruction by his hand” (Jer. 27:8).

Metacortex or Meta Cortechs
Type: Thomas Anderson's place of work. The prefix 'meta' can mean 'situated behind', and 'cortex' can refer to the cerebral cortex of the brain. Thus 'Metacortex' can mean, "we are the ones behind the scenes, who control your mind". Given the alternate spelling of 'corTECHS', and noting that 'techs' is slang for 'technicians', the name also carries the idea that "we 'work' on your head, to shape your thinking as we wish."

Anti-type: the world - As Morpheus explains, people are indeed born into bondage to a fallen world system that bombards the mind with fallen thinking.

Agents
Type: A drug or chemical capable of eliciting a biological response; an organism that is a cause of disease; a program that gathers information or performs some other services without your immediate presence.

Anti-type: demons - the agents are trying to get rid of anyone who is a threat to their 'kingdom'.